Tyner's Kashai Hemphill (51) grabs the jersey of East Hamilton's Adam Caudle (15) during their prep football game at East Hamilton High School on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Head coach: Grant Reynolds (first year here; 112-51 overall)
Returning starters: 5 offensive; 5 defensive
Key players: RB-LB Adam Caudle (5-11, 215); WR-SS Blaine Savage (6-0, 180); WR-FS Conner Thornburg (5-9, 165); QB Haynes Eller (6-5, 180); LB Aiden Holt (5-11, 220); OL Gavin Galloway (6-1, 260); DB Cade Meeks (6-2, 195); DL Nathan Lee (5-10, 230); WR Kaunyae Burgans (6-3, 185).
Team strengths: There is better than average speed and depth at the skill positions, led on both sides of the ball by Caudle, Meeks and Thornburg.
Team concerns: Ideally, Reynolds wants to build depth to the point that the Hurricanes can two-platoon up front, but they may not be there quite yet. That's because even some of the upperclassmen have limited experience, so the linemen on both sides likely will be expected to be prepared to play extended snaps until depth can be developed.
Breakout candidate: Caudle is a very durable and athletic option to carry the ball and is also one of the fastest players on the roster. That, combined with his size and work ethic in the weightroom, should make him a bellcow on both sides of the ball.
Season outlook: With a coaching change that brought in a proven championship-caliber coach in Reynolds - who directed both Boyd Buchanan and Madison (Alabama) Academy to state title games - there is renewed enthusiasm within the program. How quickly the team adjusts to new offensive and defensive philosophies will determine whether it can contend with the top teams in the region.
East Hamilton's Conner Thornburg (4) tries to get outside of Howard's Eric Johnson (4). The Howard Hustling Tigers visited the East Hamilton Hurricanes in a TSSAA District game on October 26, 2018The biggest change will be on offense, where the Hurricanes are switching from a grind-it-out wing-T approach to a no-huddle spread that will allow Eller to throw the ball quite a bit.
"I'm a defensive guy, so what I like about the no-huddle spread is that it limits what a defense can do as far as matching up and getting the right call in before the snap," Reynolds said. "It really puts a lot of pressure on the defense to get lined up correctly and be ready over and over. It's really the pace more than the scheme that's so tough.
"They lost some games last year that they probably shouldn't have, so I think a key to turning this thing around this year is to gain some confidence early. If we can get a couple of early wins and get rolling, that should help the kids believe in themselves and get things rolling in the right direction."